Monday, March 9, 2009

The Evolution of Language - A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

According to an article in the March 9th Newsweek, the phrase "terrible, horrible, no good very bad day" has made appearances in 50 news stories about certain politicians since the spring of 2007. The article also mentions that references to the phrase, "all but disappear," a few years prior to that.



The phrase "terrible, horrible, no good very bad day" originated in 1972 as part of the title of a book by Judith Viorst, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.


The author's theory about why the phrase is being used on a recurring basis now, according to the Newsweek article, is that the children who were raised on the book are now the adults who are, "running the world."

Amazing how certain words and phrases come and go and come again. The evolution of language sure is fascinating.

4 comments:

Erin Davis said...

I had no idea the book was 37 years old! I noticed references to this among talking heads in the media during the election (when discussing who was not doing well on the campaign trail).

Anonymous said...

Fascinating indeed!

I was addicted to the set of World Book encyclopedias my mom bought me in 1972 (I was ten) or I might remember that book. I don't think I read anything but that encyclopedia in 1972 ;-)

Time to read my Newsweek.

Laura Payne said...

I am a tad younger than you but I remember being jealous of my best friend because her family had the complete World Book Encyclopedia collection and we didn't. It took a couple of years but I eventually talked my parents into purchasing it. I read it all the time too.

Erin Davis said...

Yesterday on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, Rachel referred to the "no good, horrible, very bad recession." :0)

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